Engine construction



April 12, 192.3. J. R. RIPPE 2,113,904

ENGINE CONSTRUCTION 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 1 'F'IE .J

F-IIE E' 1N VENTOR.

I John 2. 840,00

ATTORNEY.

April 12, 1938. J. R. RIPPE ENGINE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 20, 1955 sSheets-Sheet 2 FIIS E F IIE Q= INVENTOR. John E. lQ/ppe BY K ATTORNEY.

J. R. RIPPE ENGINE CONSTRUCTION April 12, 1938.

Filed Feb. 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. John 2. 1960 0 eATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1938 "rrso s'r 6 Claims.

My invention relates primarily to internal combustion engines providedwith valves of the poppet type, and is especially related to engines having separable cylinder heads and cylinder blocks.

In modern internal combustion engines it is important that the valves,almost universally of the poppet type, be provided with valve seatswhich are satisfactory from the standpoints of long life and readyreplacement when damaged. It is likewise a valuable design feature tocon struct the valve seat of a special material different from thematerial of the engine as a whole.

It is thereforean object of my invention to provide in an engine meansfor providing valve 15 seats which are especially durable and readilyreplaceable when worn. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an easily constructed unitcontaining a plurality ofvalve seats. v I Y A further object of myinvention is to provide means for readily transferring heat'from a valveseat to the cooling medium. 7

An additional object of my invention is topro' ,vide means for readilyvarying the compression volume of an internal combustion engine.

7 The foregoing and other objects of my invention are attained in theembodiment illustrated in the'drawings, in which Fig. 1 is across-section on a transverse axial plane through an L-head engine ofconventional type.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of engine inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan of an engine with the cylinder head removed therefromin order to show a modi fied form of my invention.

. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on a transverse axial plane of an overheadvalve or I-head valve engine disclosing my invention incorporated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a further modified form of engine, parts being incross-section on a transverse axial plane.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the engine shown in Fig. 5, with the cylinderhead removed. In its preferred form the engine of my invention includesa cylinder block, a detachable cylinder head, and valve mechanism, andincorporates a plate interposed between the cylinder block and thecylinder head for carrying the valve seats. A

Although the engine of my invention is susceptible of many modificationsin accordance with the particular environment in which it is to beutilized, I have disclosed it herein in several major modifications toillustratethe principles involved. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, in atypical L-head internal combustion engine there isprovided a cylinderblock 6 in which there is a cylinder bore 1 forming a guide for a piston8 connected by means of a connecting rod 9 to the engine mechanism inthe customary fashion, not shown. The cylinder block 5 not onlyincorporates a water jacket H surrounding the cylinder bore '5' andcertain other parts of the engine. but likewise is provided with a gaspassage l2. This latter can beeither for the inlet of mixture to beexploded, for the admission of air in the event the Diesel cycle isemployed, for the exhaust of products of combustion, or for both inletand exhaust functions in the event the engine is of the single-valvetype. In any event, flow through the passage I2 is governed by a poppetvalve it of the standard kind, the stem M of which extends. through asuitable guide it in the cylinder block to an appropriate actuatingmechanism (not shown).

To close the cylinder block and toprovide an appropriate combustionchamber, a detachable cylinder head I! overlies both the cylinder bore land the valve E3. The cylinder head incorporates-a Water jacket [8 andis provided with a threaded aperture 19 for the reception of a sparkplug or a fuel injection mechanism. The cylinder head I! is secured tothe cylinder block 6 by means of suitable hold-down studs 2! with theiraccompanying nuts 22, in the conventional fashion.

In accordance with my invention I provide, between the cylinder block 6and the cylinder head ii, a plate 23 which is a planar sheet, preferablyof metal, substantially coextensive with the outlines of thecylinderhead IT. The plate is provided with an aperture 24, in order toaccommodate the valve i3, and the wall of the aperture to conform tocustom is tapered, as at 26, to provide an appropriate seat for thevalve. The material of the plate is preferably such as is especiallyadapted for use in conjunction with struction in order to provideappropriate gas and liquid seals.

The thickness of the plate 23 is any amount desired, and I contemplatethat plates of materially different thicknesses can be employed,simultaneously or successively, in the same engine in order to increaseor decrease the volumeof the combustion chamber 28 to vary thecompression ratio of the engine. Furthermore, I contemplate that whenthe valve seats 26 are materially drawn and worn, rather thanrefinishing them (although such can be efiected if desired) the entireplate 23 will be removed and replaced. For this purpose, the plate 23can be secured to the block 6 by fastenings (not shown) other than thosewhich hold the head I! in place. I do not contemplate that suchreplacement will often, be necessary, however, particularly in view ofthe fact that the flow of heat from the valve seat 26 can readily becontrolled, not only by selecting appropriate material for the gaskets3! and 32 but likewise by arranging for a direct heat flow from the seat26 tothe water passage, such as 29 for example. This heat flow can befacilitated by recessing the plate 23 to provide an annular channel 33encompassing the valve seat 26 and connected by a duct 34 in the plate23 with the passage 29, in order to provide localized cooling watercirculation around each valve. In this way, localized hot spotssurrounding the valve can by appropriate design be completely eliminatedfrom the construction. Of course, if desired, the gaskets 3| and 32 canbe omitted, by providing a sufiiciently accurate fit between the plate23, on the one hand, and the cylinder block 6 and thecylinder head IT,on the other hand. But customarily I prefer to employ the two gaskets asshown.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the general construction is approximately thesame, but in this instance the design does not contemplate that theremovable plate carrying the valve seat will extend for the full outlineof the cylinder head. Rather, in this arrangement the cylinder block 4!is provided on the one hand with an undercut groove 52, and on anotherportion with an outwardly and upwardly flaring chamfer 43. The removableplate M is complementarily contoured. so that when the cylinder head 46is detached from the cylinder block the plate 44 can be introduced firstwith the bevelled edge 41 fitting into the under-cut groove 42, and thereplacement of the cylinder head 46 and the tightening of the head nutsill will force the inclined face 49 on the plate closely to abut thechamfer 43 and posititn the parts accurately. Otherwise, theconstruetion is substantially as heretofore described.

In Fig. 3 I have indicated the utilization of a plurality of separateplates 52, 53 and 54, for example, on a cylinder block in which thecylinder bores 56 are arranged in line adjacent the successive pairs ofvalve ports 51 and 58, respectively, in the cylinder block. Theindividual removable plates can be replaced in the event there is damageadjacent any one of the cylinders or adjacent any one of its associatedvalves, Without otherwise disturbing the assembly.

In Fig. 4 there is disclosed an arrangement in which the cylinder block6| is surrounded by a water jacket 52, differing from customary practicein that the upper end of the water jacket is not closed, except atwidely spaced intervals,

by any cast material, but is ordinarily left with its upper portion 63open. The closure is then effected by the plate 64 which is interposedbe tween the block BI and the cylinder head lit and which also carriesseats 61 for the overhead valves 68. In this fashion the plate 64 notonly serves as a valve seat and a closure for the combustion chamber 69,but also serves as a closure for the water space 62 in order greatly tosimplify the coring of the water space in the manufacture of the block6|. Similarly, the plate 34 can serve as a closure for the water space65 in the head 66, to simplify the coring thereof. In addition, theplate 64 can be extended beyond the block and head to provide coolingfins 16 in the air stream.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plate H does not extendfor the full width of the cylinder block 12 but is fitted in a recess 23thereof and carries a succession of valve seats 14. The interengagementof the plate H and the block if? can be of the bevelled constructionshown in Fig. 2, if desired. Preferably, the plate is provided with avalve cage l6 and a valve stem guide ll, both of which fit in a bore illin the cylinderv block 12. Chamber 1% has a port 8 3 registering with anopening 8! in the cage i i to afford a suitable gas passage. With thisarrangement, the entire valve assembly can be removed by removing theplate ll, leakage along the longitudinal boundary of which is precludedby oil'- sets 82.

I claim:

1. In an engine, a cylinder block, a cylinder head detachable from saidblock and forming a combustion chamber therewith, a poppet valvecontrolling flow to and/or from said combustion chamber, and a seat forsaid valve in the form of a plate of about the thickness of the head ofsaid valve disposed between said cylinder head and said cylinder block.

2. In an engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head, and a poppetvalve, the combination of a plate forming a seat for said valve, saidplate being disposed between said cylinder block and said cylinder headand being defined by two parallel planes one of which is substantiallythe plane of the head of said valve.

3. In an engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head detachabletherefrom and valves for said cylinder, the combination of a singlethick ness of metal constituting a planar plate interposed between saidcylinder block and said cylinder head and having apertures therein forthe reception and seating of said valves.

4. In an engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head adapted tooverlie said block, and a relatively thin, uniform, substantially solidmetal plate having valve seats formed therein interposed between saidcylinder block and said cyl inder head.

5. As an article of manufacture for use in a poppet valve engine, ametal plate formed to provide a plurality of poppet valve seats andbeing substantially free of internal cavities.

6. In an engine having a cylinder block, a cyl inder head adapted tooverlie said block, and a metal plate interposed between said head andsaid block, said plate being formed to provide a plurality of enginevalve seats and being substantially free of internal cavities.

JOHN R. RIPPE.

